Her Childhood

v The more she was hit by her parents, the more likely she will stay.

v Mother battered by father

o Or other victimization or reasons for incomplete identity

Economic Dependence

v Man controls money

v She has no marketable skills

v Dread of going on welfare

v Difficult for her to get work when she has children

v No friends or relatives to help her

v No knowledge of agency or police ability to help

v Received lack of understanding from friends, relatives, police agency or court in past

v Learned helplessness

v Depression leads to no action

v Terror of loneliness

v Fear

v Reprisals for any self-assertive behavior

v Ashamed and guilty and don’t want to admit to others what’s happening

v Feels marriage has failed because she has failed

v Believes she has no power to change her situation

v Feels she did something to cause battering or she deserves it

v Feels she’s responsible for making marriage work

v Believes battering is a part of marriage

v Wants children to have a father

v Believes man is all-powerful

v Believes he can find her anywhere

v Believes he will change and that she can help him overcome his problem

Updated 6 May 2010